23 Jul 2019 17:43

Pamfilova says at meeting with opposition candidates to Moscow Duma that it is impossible to register everyone

MOSCOW. July 23 (Interfax) - Head of Russia's Central Election Commission (CEC) Ella Pamfilova has said it is impossible to clear all potential candidates for the upcoming Moscow City Duma elections, expressing hope that Russian election laws will be amended following the elections in Moscow.

"You're asking to register everybody. That's impossible under the existing law. Do you think I like the existing legislation? I have been working [as CEC head] for four years now, and we are constantly tripping over it," Pamfilova said during a meeting with unregistered Moscow Duma candidates.

"We don't have the authority to come up with legislative initiatives. But we're not giving up on consulting. I'm sure this election will give us yet more arguments to say that electoral legislation needs to be changed significantly," she said.

Candidates from the opposition demanded that Pamfilova meet with them after they had encountered problems at the stage of verification of voters' signatures needed for their registration as candidates in the Moscow City Duma elections.